What's the deal with the S&W screwdriver

[AzShooter]

I've seen prices for these all over the scale. Why are they so expensive?

Today while cleaning the house and organizing my gun drawers I found 5 of the original screwdrivers.

I also managed to find 8 complete hammers. Two were from Apex Tactical. One was the original before he started milling them himself. Nice.

 

[rburg]

Its supply and demand. Some are in very short supply. There's a very high demand for them. Its simple, really. If you've got one from the 1930s, it has hundreds of collectors chasing it. Those from the 1940s and 50s, less so but still in high demand. If you've got them and know what you've got, its time to sell..maybe.

 

[firearmsunlimited]

AzShooter,
What style(s) of screwdrivers did you find that you have?

 

[opoefc]

AZshooter, There's a thread here in the Forum files somewhere that has good pictures of most of the 20th century made S&W sight adjustment tools , ( aka: screwdrivers). Pull it up and you can tell whether you have a goldmine, or only enough to pay for tank of gas. Ed.

 

[firearmsunlimited]

AZshooter, There's a thread here in the Forum files somewhere that has good pictures of most of the 20th century made S&W sight adjustment tools , ( aka: screwdrivers). Pull it up and you can tell whether you have a goldmine, or only enough to pay for tank of gas. Ed.

Ed,
Actually there is an expert commentary on SATs here on the forum. I don't know the guy but it looks like it is relatively comprehensive to me and it has some some good pics. LOL

 

[VM]

I've seen prices for these all over the scale. Why are they so expensive?

Today while cleaning the house and organizing my gun drawers I found 5 of the original screwdrivers.

I also managed to find 8 complete hammers. Two were from Apex Tactical. One was the original before he started milling them himself. Nice.

AzShooter - is this what your screwdrivers look like?

 

[AzShooter]

Yes that's the one.

 

[Florida Guy]

Its supply and demand. Some are in very short supply. There's a very high demand for them. Its simple, really. If you've got one from the 1930s, it has hundreds of collectors chasing it. Those from the 1940s and 50s, less so but still in high demand. If you've got them and know what you've got, its time to sell..maybe.

Is there a way to date these like the guns?
I've got my original from circa 1980, but just wanted to know if there is a way to tell them apart.

 

[stantheman86]

I've got one still in the bag in the box for my 581.....they don't even seem to fit the sideplate screws right.

 

[G-Mac]

I've got one still in the bag in the box for my 581.....they don't even seem to fit the sideplate screws right.

Not sure why a 581 would come with a "sight adjustment tool" being a fixed-sight gun.

 

[kennyb]

I've got one still in the bag in the box for my 581.....they don't even seem to fit the sideplate screws right.

it's a sight adj.tool.....never intended for sideplate screws

 

[stantheman86]

That explains it! I wish S&W would include a sideplate screwdriver with new S&W's.......or are we not supposed to open the sideplate ourselves, kind of like the "Not to be opened by consumer" plate on the back of my DVD player

 

[kennyb]

brownells sells a number of differant screwdriver sets for handguns that are of professional quality...one of the quickest ways to bugger a screw is with a screwdriver that does not properly fit.....some pull the sideplate to simply lubricate...i dont and never have and all of mine run just fine

 

[firearmsunlimited]

Is there a way to date these like the guns?
I've got my original from circa 1980, but just wanted to know if there is a way to tell them apart.

GO HERE: http://smith-wessonforum.com/blogs/...ustment-tool-identification-screwdrivers.html

 

[Gunhacker]

brownells sells a number of differant screwdriver sets for handguns that are of professional quality...one of the quickest ways to bugger a screw is with a screwdriver that does not properly fit.....some pull the sideplate to simply lubricate...i dont and never have and all of mine run just fine

Right... and it should be mentioned that pulling a side plate off improperly runs the risk of damaging it to the point where it won't go back on.

Best left alone until there an absolute need to pull it off, and you know how to do it.

 

[JSR III]

Side plates should never be "pulled" off (ie: pried) but rather knocked off using a plastic, wood or rawhide mallet. With the side plate facing down and the gun held over a soft cloth or towel, the up side of the revolver is tapped with the hammer until the side plate falls off. The up side can be protected by another cloth or piece of leather to prevent any scratches from the hammer blows.

If hit sharply, the downward force is usually enough to knock the unscrewed side plate off. NEVER use a knife or screwdriver to PRY off the side plate as you can cause irreparable damage to it or the frame. Make sure to use the correct screwdriver for the side plate screws as buggering them also decreases the value.

 

[kabar]

Any having a problem with S&W 1911 thumb safety? Some times when I put my new (300rds) it will not fire when I take the safety off. Cock the hammer it goes boom?

 

[old bear]

Kabar, you may want to move this to the auto or gunsmithing section. I don't think you will get much of response here.